A petition against the plans has amassed more than 4,000 signatures, but Surrey County Council's cabinet is set to debate the recommendation at a cabinet meeting next Tuesday (March 10) after it was claimed the homes are no longer adequate for the growing needs of the elderly.

“When these homes were built, the requirement was that the residents should be fully mobile and continent.

“Today, all of our homes are getting people who have multiple and complex needs, which is a tremendous strain on the staff and the resources. The current care homes can’t cope.”

'Keep options open'

However, according to the Liberal Democrats group on the county council, the reason for the authority wanting to shut the homes is because it has "failed to look after its property, and piled up large sums of money in the bank while the buildings have been left to become outdated".

The Lib Dems' adult social care spokesperson, Cllr Fiona White, said: “With the difficulties some care homes have got into, and the Care Act just coming into force in 2015/16 and all its implications, Surrey needs to keep all its options open.

“That includes making sure that the council can provide a good level of care for everyone who can no longer live independently in their own homes.

"This is a time to invest in updating the property to make sure they never let down Surrey residents.”

The numbers of people across the six homes using services include 133 permanent residents, 28 current day care users, an average of 36 temporary/respite beds occupied, and an average of 13 people commencing a period of bed-based reablement per month.

Members of the GMB union outside Surrey County Hall to protest against possible closure of six Surrey-run care homes

Paul Couchman, secretary of Save Our Services in Surrey (SOSiS), said care home residents and staff had been in tears after cabinet papers detailing the recommendation to close were released on Monday (March 2).

He said: “Despite nearly 4,500 people signing a petition, over 400 written responses, two packed public meetings and a protest walk through Reigate, the Surrey County Council cabinet look set to rubber stamp the closure of all six of their in-house care homes.

“Many [opponents] feel that the logic of their arguments and the strength of their campaigning was having an effect. The consultation responses could not have been clearer.

“Whatever happens on Tuesday, Save Our Services in Surrey will not give up the fight to protect these valued and loved local services.”

If the cabinet approves the recommendations, work will begin to examine future alternative provisions in the area of each property in order to meet future adult social care needs.

The first phase of assessment of individuals, as well as a staff consultation, would also commence during April 2015.

'Safeguard residents'

Cllr Few said: “Every one of our residents are unique and individual. We will have an in-depth assessment with them and their families, and make arrangements that deals with their aspect of care.

“At the moment, if the recommendations are passed, we don’t have any detail of how long it will take. There is no immediate need to rapidly close the homes tomorrow. They won’t be shut the next day.

"We are trying to safeguard our residents, and that is paramount. We will not move anyone into a home that can’t cope with their needs.”

Future services of the old sites could include facilities for extra care, dementia care or support for carers, such as short breaks.

Cllr Few added: “I hope that when I put it to the cabinet, I can make the case clearly and convince them that this is the right decision to make.”

There will be a protest lobby outside County Hall in Kingston from 12.30pm until 2pm on Tuesday March 10.